Four injured in Glens Falls fire

Aerial trucks rescue dozens from apartment building near downtown; no fatalities

Times Union

Staff report

Updated 10:58 pm, Thursday, May 8, 2014

A firefighter works the scene of a large fire at the Sherman Square apartment complex in Glens Falls, N.Y., Thursday, May 8, 2014. The fire was reported just before 7 p.m. and smoke filled much of downtown Glens Falls as the blaze was extinguished. Initial reports were that all occupants of the building had escaped. (AP Photo/The Post-Star, Jason McKibben)

A firefighter works the scene of a large fire at the Sherman Square...

Four people were hurt and more than 25 had to be rescued Thursday evening from a burning apartment building at 5 Sherman Ave., authorities said.

Three residents and a firefighter were rushed to Glens Falls Hospital for treatment of injuries resulting from the multi-alarm fire, Police Chief Will Valenza said.

The injuries were not considered life threatening.

When firefighters arrived at the Sherman Square Apartments they discovered residents struggling to escape the burning building, authorities said.

Residents trapped on the upper floor of the three-story building were rescued by firefighters who guided them down ladders, Valenza said.

The building was surrounded by several aerial ladder trucks pouring water onto the roof and upper story to fight the fire.

Flames could be seen in the upper windows. Heavy smoke covered the block.

Hundreds of local residents surrounded the fire scene, watching as several fire companies from Warren and Saratoga counties joined city firefighters in attacking the fire. The streets were lit with the flashing lights of fire trucks and police cars.

"We've got at least 25 people displaced," Valenza said.

The American Red Cross of Northeastern New York was at the scene to assist the displaced residents.

Valenza said that about two dozen residents of 7 Sherman Ave., which sustained smoke and water damage but no apparent fire damage, were also being assisted by the Red Cross.

The two large apartment buildings are only eight feet apart, Valenza said.

Dave Stevenson said he narrowly escaped the fire at 5 Sherman Square. One of his hands was wrapped in a gauze bandage, due to a burn, he said.

"I tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher," Stevenson said about how the flames had burned his hand.

The downtown fire forced officials to block off streets in the area of Glen Street, Bay Street, Washington Street and Sherman Avenue to allow firefighters to deploy their equipment to battle the blaze.